Automatic releasing mechanism for fire doors



E. A. LOWE. AUTOMATIC RELEASING MECHANISM FOR FIRE nooas.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 31,1916.

I N V EN TOR.

" EQZZZ BY W k A TTORNEYS.

E. A. LOWE. AUTOMATIC RELEASING MECHANISM FOR FIRE DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT-3h19l6.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

E. A LOWE. AUTOMATIC HELEASING MECHANISM FOR FIRE DOORS. APPLICATIONFILED OCT-3|, I9I6.

1,404,534, Patented Jan. 24, 1922,

3 SHtE fS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST A. LOWE, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS,

TO AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR-PORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC RELEASING MECHANISM FOR FIRE DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

Application filed October 31, 1916. Serial No. 128,689.

To all whomz't may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST A. Lown, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Plainfield, in the county ofUnion and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Releasing Mechanism for Fire Doors, of whichthe following is a specification.

My present invention relates to automatic releasing mechanism adapted tobring about the closure or other movement of'a door, window, shutter orthe like. upon a change of temperature at an excessive or abnormal rateas in the case of fire or other condition accompanied by temperaturechanges and requiring the release'of said door, window, shutter or thelike.

In my prior applications for patent filed June 17. 1913 (patented June11, 1918, No..

1,269,556), Serial No. 774.101, and May 12, 1915 (patented Dec. 12,1916, No. 1,208,177), Serial No. 27,485. allowed May 15th, 1916, I havedescribed devices of this general character wherein the releasing,mechanism is under the control of a thermostat acting to free the sameonly when the temperature rises at an abnormal rate and the use inconnection with said devices of the old form of release effected bymeans of a fuse 0r fixed temperature device directly connected to thedoor or the cord or rope by which the same is held in normal positionand acting, on fusion, to free the door.

My present invention consists in the construction of the releasingmechanism where by said fixed temperature device may be incorporatedtherein as a part of the construction to be applied to the door in placeand the invention will be hereinafter described in connection with thatparticular construction of apparatus which forms the subject of myapplication filed May 12th, 1915, as an improvement upon the inventioncovered by the first of the applications above mentioned.

My invention further consists in certain improvements in the details ofconstruction of the rate of rise temperature device and which aredescribed but not claimed in the aforesaid applications for patent.

In the following description the fuse or other device which controls theoperation of the door and which operates on the attainment of a fixed orabsolute temperature,

will be hereinafter referred to as the fixed temperature controlthermostat and the device which responds only to a rate of rise greaterthan that allowable with safety under the particular conditions of usewill be referred to as the rate of rise thermostat. In addition to thesethermostats and used in. combination with them to effect the desiredresult, the apparatus described in the latter of the two aboveapplications and in which I have shown my present invention embodiedcomprises, briefly stated, a release device immediately associated withthe door and which acts to free the door by freeing the same from theinfluence of any restraining device, as for instance a weight orcounterweight opposing the continual bias of a spring or weight tendingconstantly to move the door, detent mechanism normally holding saidrelease device out of action and comprising preferably a, train ofdetent mechanisms having a self-releasing tendency in their members asdescribed in my application filed May 12th, 1915, and a final releasingdog or detent subject to the actuation or control of the rate of risethermostat.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l'is a front elevation of a form ofapparatus in which my invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 shows a self-closing fire door equipped for use in connectionwith my invention.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan, parts being shown in horizontal section.

Fig. 4 is an edge view, the casing being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of the detent mechanism detachedfrom the other parts.

Fig. 6 shows in detail one of the elements of the detent mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line c-c Fig. 4.

1 is the framework in which the shafts of the detent mechanism aremounted and" the mechanism and the arm may be loosely hung thereon asindicated. Upon the release of the detaining counterweight the doormoves by gravity on its tracks to close the opening as shown. Afixedtemperature control thermostat 7 comprising a fusible link is shown atits usual location included in {the counterweight sustaining cord orconnection between the same and its fixed point of attachment. Thedetent mechanism by which the release device 2 is normally held inposition shown in Fig. 1 comprises a train of detents which, to theextent to be indicated. have a tendency to release themselves.

Briefly, the train shown comprises first (in the order of proximity tosaid release device 2) detent arm 9 extending from weighted rock shaft 3and connected with the release device 2 as will be presently described.Arm 9. normally stands detained by engagement with a shoulder 11 on adetent arm 12 projecting from rock shaft 13. Detent arm 12 normallystands engaged and locked by weighted rock shaft '14 or part 14 thereoncut away, as shown, so that when the shaft turnsthe detent arm 12 willbe released. The detent arm 15 carried by said weighted rock shaft isprovided with the detent latch 16 adapted to lock against the shoulder17 on the rock shaft provided with detent arm 18. The latch 16 passesthe projection of the shoulder 17 andlatches against the same when therock shaft is returned to normal position by the operation of the link20 carried by an arm 40 projecting from the shaft 13 having theresetting handle 21 The detent arm 18 is locked by a detent not havingself-releasing tendency but positively locking the same and subjected tothe actuation or control of the rate of rise thermostat directly or indirectly.- It is positively locked by the dog 22 on a latch arm 23 andthe latter is held positively from movement in a direction to free thedetent arm 18 by means of the latch or catch 24. The latter in turn ispositively operated by the power of the rate of rise thermostat. It isre-set by hook 41 on arm. 40. The rate of rise thermostat, in itspreferred form, comprises the following parts:

25 indicates a. metallic chamber the walls of which may be corrugated asshown and which is preferably made of metal to readily conduct heat tothe liquid or fluid contents of the same. The air or fluid space of saidcontainer communicates by a pipe 26 with a confined space at the back ofa diaphragm 27 clamped in suitable disks and having a pin engaging theend .of the detent lever 24 as shown. The forces of expansion of thecontents of container 25 and connected pipmg and spaces are employed asa means for operatin the detent 24 by acting against the resilientdiaphragm 27. The operation of said detent takes place when the rise oftemperature affecting the thermostat is at an abnormal rate or rategreater than the rate of ordinary rise accompanying changes ofatmospheric temperature or other changes permissible under theconditions or in the situation of use of the device. To cause the actionupon the detent 24 to take place only when the rate of rise is abnormal,an air vent or leak is provided in connection with the space in whichthe heated expansible air or gas is contained and said air vent isadjusted to allow the escape of airunder ordinary or normal rates oftemperature change at such a rate as to preserve a practical equilibriumof the forces actin on opposite sides of the diaphragm 27. his

air vent may be mounted in an extension 28 from the air chamber. The endof said extension is provided with a detachable screw cap 29 sealing theend of the extension and carrying the vent pipe 30 the inner end ofwhich projects into the air space.

Within said pipe is air filtering material as indicated at 31 andconsisting preferably of fibrous material such as threads or filaments.The inner end of this vent tube is constricted or compressed to securethe desired minute venting action which determines at what rate of riseof temperature the thermostat shall become operative to release thedetent mechanism.

The air chamber may, for mechanical protection, be enclosed in asuitable protecting cage 32. A rate of rise of temperature greater thannormal or permissible rate consistent with safety or required conditionsof use, causes an accumulation of pressure behind the diaphragm 27 andhence a mechanical operation of the catch 24 which in turn 0 cratescatch 22 and frees the detent train esc'ribed, thus freeing the release2 and causing the door to close The fixed temperature release devicewhich is employed as part of the same self-com tained release mechanismand is designed to operate upon any great or excessive and sudden changeof temperature is incorporated in the release mechanism between therelease device 2 and the same at any desired point but preferablydirectly between the release device 2 and the next succeeding member.Thus, as shown, said fixed temperature control thermostat comprisin afusible link 33 may be secured at one end to a screw or pin 34 on therelease device 2 and at its opposite end may be similarly fastened tothe arm 10 extending from the rock shaft 3 carrying detent arm 9 of thedetent mechanism. The release device being thus connected with thedetent mechanism. will be normally held from turning. Said fixedtemperature control thermostat will however release the door by freeingthe release device 2 should temperature conditions be such as to fusethe said link 33. At the same time, so long as the link remains intact,the release device 2 will be sustained in normal position but themechanism will be free to operate and release the device 2 under thecontrol or action of the rate of rise thermostat when a temperaturechange takes place insufiicient nevertheless to fuse the link, saidrelease under the action of the rate of rise thermostat taking place asalready described by the action of the train of detents connectedthrough the detent arm 9, arm 10 and link 33 with release device 2.

What I claim. as my invention is:

1. An automatic release apparatus of the character described having adual control by two thermostats, one a rate of rise thermostatcontrolling a release device through a detent mechanism and the other afixed temperature thermostat, said fixed temperature thermostat beingincorporated therein to form a mechanical link in the mechanicalconnection between said detent mechanism and the release device.

2. A-releasing mechanism of the character described for fire doors andthe like having a dual control of the door by two thermostats, one arate of rise thermostat controlling a. release device through a detentmechanism, the other a fixed temperature thermostat consisting of afusible-link, said fusible link constituting the fixed temperatureelement of the devlce bein incorporated therein to form a mechanicaIconnection between the detent mechanism and the release device.

3. A thermostatically controlled release mechanism having a releasedevice and detent mechanism governing the action of said release device,and having a fusible link incorporated in the apparatus as a mechanicalconnection between the detent mechanism and the release device wherebysaid detent mechanism may act mechanically through the link to hold therelease device against operation and said fusible link may at any timeact to free the release device without operation of the detentmechanism.

4. In a releasin mechanism for fire doors and the like, provided with arelease device, a detent mechanism, a rate of rise thermostat, and acatch for the detent mechanism actuated by the force of expansion ofsaid rate of rise device, a fixed temperature con trol thermostatincorporated in and forming a component part of the mechanicalconnection between the detent mechanism and the release device.

5. In a rate of rise thermostat having a sealed air container and adetent actuating diaphragm operated by the forces of expansion of theconfined air, an air vent con nected to the confined air spaces andcomprising a pipe constructed to secure the desired minute vefi'tingaction and containing air filtering material.

6. In a rate of rise thermostat having a sealed air container and adetent actuating diaphragm operated by the forces of expansion of theconfined air, an air vent comprising a pipe extending into the air spaceand having a constricted passage way containing air filtering material.

7. In a rate of rise thermostat having a sealed air container and adetent actuating diaphragm operated by the forces of expansion of theconfined air, an air vent comprising a pipe extending into the air spaceand secured to a detachable cap mounted on an air outlet or extension.

8. A rate of rise thermostat comprising an air chamber having a body ofconfined air, a cap adapted to seal an outlet in said chamber and a pipecarried by said cap and extending into the air space, said pipe beingprovided with filtering material and being adapted to limit the escapeof air when heated to a predetermined rate.

9. A rate of rise thermostat comprising a metallic container having anair vent direct to the atmosphere adapted to allow leakage of air at apredetermined rate, a detent actuating diaphragm and a pipe connectingthe space behind the diaphragm with the air space of the container.

10. A detent controlled releasing mechanism for fire doors comprising arock lever, a connected rock shaft and a release arm loosely pivoted tosaid rock shaft, and a rate of rise thermostat controlling saidreleasing mechanism, a fusible link releasably connecting said releasearm to said rock lever to independently release said arm when apredetermined temperature is reached.

Signed at Youngstown, 1n the countyof Mahoning and State of Ohio, this27th day of October, A. D. 1916.

ERNEST A. LOWE.

\Vitnesses:

N. A. EMERY, IRENE Fownnn.

